5 French Design Terms Every Styling Enthusiast Should Know

Do you have a penchant for French design? If you do, we can't blame you! It's charming, elegant and modern all at the same time—you can see it in centuries-old homes and even in modern-day homes. If you want to learn more, here are brief definitions of the architectural terms used in the industry:

1. Chateau

A large, French country house or castle.

2. Folly

An ornamental building or structure with no apparent practical use; in other words, it can't be inhabited comfortably. These are usually found in parks and in sprawling estates.

3. Industrial revolution

A manufacturing revolution in Europe from the 1700s to the 1800s. It was also the time when iron was produced in large quantities, modernizing the way structures were built.

4. Orangerie

A building with a facade that features classical architectural details such as columns with capitals and pediments. Orangeries were fashionable in the 1700s and 1800s, and were additional structures built separately from the original house.

5. Tadelakt

Waterproof lime plaster used on walls—a popular finish still used in Morocco.

This snippet is from the original article ("Milling Around") that originally appeared in the April 2014 issue of Real Living Magazine. Main photo is by mywarehousehome.com.